Lift truck fork



Oct. 14, 1952 H. PONNEQUIN LIFT TRUCK FORK 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed March15, 1948 Lou/e H. Ponnequin INVENTOR.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2 Oct. 14, 1952 Filed March 15, 1948 Lou/e H. PonnequinINVENTOR.

BY M

Patented Oct. 14, 1952 LIFT TRUCK FORK Louie H. Ponnequin, Honolulu,Territory of Hawaii Application March 15, 1948, Serial No. 14,970

This invention relates to novel and useful improvements in lifting andtransporting apparatus.

An object of this invention is to lift a bale or other package andtransport the same by improved means. i

Another object of this invention is to frictionally engage the sides ofa bale or the like, lift the same and transport it.

, Another object of this invention is to provide a pair of rails bymeans of a suitable pivot on the tractor or prime mover, supply aplurality of tracks transversely of the rails and in slidable engagementtherewith and also provide Work engaging tines slidable in thesaidtracks.

Another object of this invention is to hydraulically actuate the saidwork engaging tools.

A still further purpose of this invention is to selectively control theactuation of the hydraulic actuation means. Y

. Another object of this invention is to provide a generally improvedlifting device for use in transporting bales, packages or otherimpedimenta'.

Ancillary objects and features of novelty will become apparent to thoseskilled in the art, in following the description of the preferred formof the invention, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein: I

Figure 1 is an elevational side view of the preferred form ofthe'invention;

Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the hydraulic system utilized inassociation with the invention and forming a portion thereof:

Figure 3 is a sectional view of the lift means illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view of the detail of constructionshown in Figure. 3 and taken substantially on the line 4-4 thereof andin the direction of the arrows;

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view' taken on the line 55 of Figure3 .and in the direction of the arrows;.and I- 'i I Figure 6 is alongitudinal sectional view taken substantially one line 66 of Figure 3and in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings, wherein like referencecharacters are .used throughout to indicate similar elements, there isillustrated a device or apparatus which is characteristic of the presentinventive concept. A conventional tractor or prime mover is generallyindicated at H] and provided with various and sundry appurtenancescontiguous to and conventional to tractors or prime movers of thisnature. A pair of vertical rails having a channel-like cross-section areindicated at l2 and I4 respec- 2 Claims. (01. 214115) tively and areconnected by means of a head rail or header [6 at one pair of endsthereof. Fish plates I8 extend from the said rails l2 and I4 and haveconventional pivot pins 20 interconnecting the rails with the chassis ofthe tractor It. Means for pivotally actuating the rails l2 and I4respectively may be provided if found desirable, this being aconventional fixture or apparatus.

Referring now primarily to Figures 3-5,there is illustrated a pluralityof tracks 22, 24. and 26 respectively. These tracks are slidablyreceived in thesaid channel-shaped rails l2 and [4 respectively throughthe expedient of the shoes 28 and 30.

sions of the channel-shaped rails and are slidable therein. The tracksare attached directly to the shoes and are vertically slidabletherewith.

Means for actuating the work engaging tines 32 and 34 respectively isprovided. The preferable means may be seen. best in Figure 3 wherein'apair of hydraulic rams 36' and 38 respectively, including a'pair ofcylinders 35 and 31' having v piston rods and 42 are illustrated asbeing attached to the tines 32 and 34 by means of small brackets 44 and46 respectively. These small brackets are integrally associated with thesaid tines as by Welding, forming of a single cast,"

brazing or the like. The opposite ends of the rams are secured toalternate shoes 28 and 30. thereby rendering. the rams slidable with thework engaging tines 32 and 34. Upon application of a force to the pistonrods 40 and 42, the work engaging tines 32 and 34 will be actuatedparallel to the tracks or transversely of the rails.

Means for raising and lowering the shoes and consequently the entireassemblage including the rams and work engaging tines is supplied. Thismeans consists of a pair of plates 50 having pivot pins 52 associatedtherewith. Also secured to thesaid pivot pins is a telescopicallyadjustable shaft construction 'generally indicated at 54.

This shaft construction terminates in a conven- The means for actuatingthe hydraulic rams I may be seen best in Figures 1 and 2 wherein thereis disclosed a pump attached to the said tractor H) and an oil reservoir62 suitably located on the tractor. A filter 64 may be supplied in thesupply tank 62 to serve its usual and. con- Theseshoes have an externalconfiguration complemental to the internal dimen- 2a and 30.

ventional function and a line or conduit 66 connects the filter with thesaid pump 60.

Hydraulic fluid or the like is conducted through a flexible tube orconduit 68 over a sheave l0, thence to the inlet side of the hydraulicram 38. Before extending over the sheave however,- the conduit 68extends to a four-way selector valve 1!.

Interposed in the conduit or line 68 is a pressure relief valve 14 whichhas a return line it extending to the tank 62.

Following the diagram of Figure 2, it will be seen that fluid extendsthrough the pipe or conduit 60 to the pump 60 from the said tank 62.

Then, it extends through a suitable conduit to the overflow valve 19then to the selector valve 1| and to the hydraulic ram 38. A secondconduit 18 flexible in nature interconnects the second selector valve 80for use in association with the second ram 36. Conduits 8i and 02respectively extend from the selector valve 82 at both endsof theram 38for application of fluid to either side of thepiston therein.

A conduit 89 extends from the selector valve H toone end of the said ram38 while the said flexible, conduit 68 extends through the other end. Bymanipulation of the four-way selector valves, fluid may be directed toeither side of the pistons in the said rams or may be bypassed from theselector valve H to the selector valve 80-when it is found desirable. Areturn line 39 extends from the selector valve 80 to thetank 62 whereinthe exhausted fluid is deposited for recirculation.

, Insumming up, each selector valve H and 80 may be manipulated to thepositions of providing fluid toeach end of the rams, to be bypassed fromone selector Valve to the other or may be set to the entirely closedposition.

Itwill be noted from an inspection of Figure 2 that. four flexibleconductors are requisite for the'desired manipulation and actuation ofthe work engaging tines 32 and 34 and therefore, four-sheaveslu arsupplied on a common shaft 92.- ,This, common shaft extends between therailsflZ and Ill, wherein it is journalled.

In journalling the'said work engaging tines 32 and 34, inspection ofFigure 6 discloses that a pair of shoes or runners I00 and I02respectively are preferably rigidly secured to said work engagingtinesand are fitted within the confines of the tracks. This permits thedesired sliding movement and obviates undesired transversemovementrelative to' the desired travel of the work engaging tines.

Further, all of the rails22, 24 and 26 may be interconnected by means ofconnecting rods Hie which forman operative portion of the said shoesThis expedient forms a carriage and is resorted to for smoothness inoperation. Con

While there has been described and illustrated but a preferred form ofthe invention, it is apparent that variations may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit thereof. Accordingly,

limitation is sought only in accordance with the scope of the followingclaims.

Having described the invention what is claimed as new is:

1. In a lifting and transporting apparatus, a tractor having a pump, apair of vertical rails pivotally secured at their lower ends to saidtractor, transverse tracks slidably secured in said rails, laterallymovable work engaging tines slidably positioned in said transversetracks, means for slidably actuatin said tracks in said rails, means forslidably actuating said tines toward and away from each other, and meansfor communicating said last mentioned means with the pump, said tineactuation means comprising rams having pistons slidable in a directionperpendicular to said rails, said communicating means comprising aplurality of flexible conduits, a shaft journalled between said rails,sheaves on said shaft having said conduits positioned thereon, valves insaid conduits for controllin the flow from the pump and rams. I

2. A lift and transporting apparatus comprising, a tractor having a pairof vertical rails pivotally attached at their lower ends thereto,transverse tracks extending between said rails, shoes verticallyslidable in said rails and secured to said tracks, thereby mounting saidtracks in said rails for vertical movement, means secured to one of saidtracks and including an extensible shaft assembly for raising andlowering said tracks, work-engaging tines slidable in said trackslongitudinally of said tracks, hydraulically actuating means for movingsaid tines toward and away from each other, control valves secured tosaid tractor for regulating said hydraulically actuating means, saidactuating means including a "pump on the tractor and rams, each ramincludventional levers I 06 forsteering of the vehicle and I08 forregulating the speed of the vehicle or tractor I0 as well as the standH2 for supporting an individual are supplied in association with theconventional tractor Hi to serve their usualfunction. All othernecessary appurten'ancescontiguous to such types of tractor are suppliedin association with the tractor in order to render the same operative.

ing a cylinder with a piston therein, each piston having meansconnecting it to one of said tines, a header connecting the upper endsofsaid rails, a shaft journaled between said rails and having sheavesthereon, and flexible conduits intercommunicating said rams and saidpump and locating on said sheaves.

LOUIE H. PONNEQUIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

I UNITED STATES PATENTS Number

